Two Young Men Charged with Kidnapping and Robbery Over Threat to Share Intimate Video

This Thursday, indictments were filed against two young men aged 19 and 20 from Yafia, near Nazareth in the Galilee, for kidnapping, aggravated robbery, threats, indecent acts, and aggravated assault. The charges stem from an incident where the suspects kidnapped, assaulted, and robbed a young man who threatened to distribute an intimate video of a minor.

The investigation began in the northern district police after a complaint from a northern resident who said he was attacked upon entering a guest apartment in Nof HaGalil. The victim was stripped, handcuffed, filmed naked, and had his cellphone stolen by two masked assailants. Security footage captured the suspects putting on masks moments before the attack.

The background involves an intimate relationship between the victim and a minor girl. After she sought to end the relationship, the victim allegedly threatened to share private content stored on his phone. The minor contacted a friend, who then involved the two suspects. They lured the victim to the apartment under false pretenses, assaulted him, forced him to unlock his phone, deleted all media files, and took the device. They later showed the videos to the minor involved.

The Northern District Prosecutor's Office, represented by attorney Dezira Barbara, filed the indictments. Investigations into other involved parties, including the two minors and the victim, continue, with decisions on further charges pending. Nof HaGalil police commander Deputy Superintendent Kobi Biton condemned the incident, emphasizing that no one is above the law and that the police will act decisively against violence and exploitation of intimate content.